Encountering other Americans in Scotland

It still stops me in my tracks when I unexpectedly hear an American accent. I don't hear it very often in the area where I live even though I know there are quite a few who live here....stayed behind after the US Navy base left about 13 years ago.

I still feel the urge to say something to them but I've done it once or twice with an unfriendly reaction. This is a common reaction as I've heard from many other expats here. Now many of us just don't say anything because the reaction is usually a short reply with the vibes that say 'why would I want to talk to you just because you're American as well?' When I go to touristy areas and in peak season it's very common to hear them and you can always tell which are tourists and which ones live here.

From what I've discovered there are approximately 200,000 Americans living in the UK....many are here temporarily as students or working for a year or two. Haven't a clue how many of us are permanent.

Surprisingly I've had two people (one Scottish, one English) make the assumption that if I were to divorce my Scottish husband (not a chance!!) or become widowed that I would move back to the US. Why? This is my home now. I ai'nt leaving!

Terrorists everywhere!

London hit again as well as the terrorist attacks in other countries. What next for the UK? Will they try to scare the entire population and attack other major cities throughout the UK? These people are insane! What are they proving? They will never win. Do they really think all these societies they are condemning are going to shrug their shoulders and go back to the middle ages - a place where they are stuck?

It's a lovely wee girl!

Over the moon! Have a beautiful granddaughter - Haylee! She's about 4,000 miles away though across that great big pond. Can't see her for another 6 weeks when I'm booked to take time off and fly across. Everyone telling me it's such a fantastic thing when you have your first grandchild, the older ones telling me by the 8th of 9th it's kind of routine. Well, I really don't anticipate having that many! I'd hazard a guess at 2-4 max.

Wow!

Grandchild

Well, here's a test for me. My first grandchild is scheduled to be born tomorrow by c-section (or caesar as it's called here). I'm over the moon - and it's going to be a girl!

I'm very happy living here in Scotland and with seeing family once a year for christmas, but now I'll need to make it twice a year.... wondering if that will be enough and how I'll feel about missing out so much on watching my granddaughter grow up?

London bombings

Very saddened about the bombings in London on Thursday the 7th. It wasn't unexpected because it's been discussed as an easy target for quite a while now. Impressed by how efficient the emergency services were and how Londoners resolved to get on with life and not let terrorists scare them away from their city.

Totally disgusted with comments made by the arseholes on Foxnews.... well, I'm disgusted with them all the time anyway...but these comments were unforgiveable.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200507080005

It can be embarrassing to be an American here with the current administration and the American media - like Fox(news). I've been asked how 49% of the voters could be so stupid to let bush remain prez. I have no answer...haven't figured that out myself.

London Olympics 2012

Am really chuffed to learn that London won the bid for the Olympics in 2012. I wasn't paying much attention to it and didn't care one way or the other till I heard Chiracs' cheeky comments about Britain having crap food - including haggis - a Scottish specialty. Knowing Paris was the favourite to win but that London was close behind...my interest definitely peeked. I watched the announcement live on tv and leapt out of my chair and screamed for joy when I heard London won.

Past the adjustment phase yet?

Life as an expat goes through phases. At 5+ years now I'm well past the initial stage, however I'm still learning new things though not at the speed I did at first. Scots have their own phrases for just about everything. Some I learn because of the elderly clients I care for in my job.

Major changes in the last year: hub retired early, I quit working in office environments and now work part-time with the elderly which involves a lot of travel, we are flexible with travel plans and can stay somewhere for a month at a time....

Answer to question.... yes I'm well past the adjustment phase. I forget sometimes that I don't sound like everyone else, but am reminded when someone stops and stares when they hear me speak.

This forum/message board helped me a lot! http://www.americanexpats.co.uk
Sadly didn't discover it until I'd been here for nearly two years.